William Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill

Captain Sempill showing a Gloster Sparrowhawk to Admiral Togo Heihachiro, 1921.

William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill (24 September 1893 – 30 December 1965) was a British engineer. Before succeeding his father to the titles of Lord Sempill and Baronet of Craigevar in 1934, he was known by the title Master of Sempill.

Forbes-Sempill was involved in the aircraft industry from its early days, both as a flyer and as an engineer. During World War I, he enrolled in the Royal Flying Corps; by the end of the war he held the rank of colonel. He became a test pilot^[1] and transferred into the Royal Naval Air Service. In 1921 he led a British deputation to Japan, to assist the Japanese navy in setting up its new air base. On 4 September 1930, he set a new record by flying a de Havilland DH.60 Moth seaplane (G-AAVB) 1,040 miles non-stop from Welsh Harp to Stockholm in 12 hours.^[2] On 26 March 1936 he made a record-breaking flight in a BAC Drone (G-ADPJ) 570 miles from Croydon Airport direct to Berlin Tempelhof Airport in 11 hours.^[2][3] During World War II he served in the Fleet Air Arm.

Lord Sempill was a leading figure in the Royal Aeronautical Society, of which he was president, and advised overseas governments, including that of Australia, on the creation of their air forces. In 1956 the Swedish government awarded him the Order of the Polar Star. At various times he was president of the British Gliding Association and of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

On his death, his titles were split; his daughter Ann inherited the barony, as this title was able to be passed down the female line, but the baronetcy passed to his younger brother, Ewan.

Honors

• Order of the Rising Sun, Japan.^[4]
• Order of the Polar Star, Sweden.

Notes

1. ^ Peter C Smith, Fist from the Sky
2. ^ ^{a b} Lewis (1970)
3. ^ Flight 9 April 1936, flightglobal.com
4. ^ Day, Peter. "British aviation pioneer was a spy for Japan," Telegraph (London). February 1, 2002.

References

• Lewis, Peter. 1970. British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft. Putnam ISBN 0-370-00067-6

External links

• National Portrait Gallery website

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by John Forbes-Sempill	Lord Sempill 1934–1965	Succeeded by Ann Forbes-Sempill
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by John Forbes-Sempill	Baronet (of Craigievar)  1934–1965	Succeeded by Ewan Forbes

Persondata
Name	Forbes, Sempill, William
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 September 1893
Place of birth
Date of death	30 December 1965
Place of death